The Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, has recently engaged the Krio Descendants Union and clarified certain crucial aspects of Freetown City Council’s (FCC) property rates and business license reform.
During the discussions, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr explained that the new property rates is a fundamental change in the method of valuing real property which increased the rates on some property and decreases the rates on many others. She further presented to the delegation data which confirmed that the annual property rates for 80% of all property in Freetown will still be Le500,000 or less with the new system, equivalent Le42,000 per month.
She said that before the recent review, the property rates system had not been reviewed for decades, and FCC had not been able to effectively deliver the services its residents want, from maintenance of the 11 cemeteries within the municipality to the provision of adequate numbers of sanitary inspectors and much more.
The discussion also covered the need for a policy for pensioners and those with extenuating circumstances. The Mayor was spelt it out that the property rate is an annual charge that could be paid in monthly installments. She also said that consideration had been given by FCC to further extend this year’s due date and the Freetown City Council would communicate that shortly.
At the end of the engagement representatives of the Creoles Descendants Union had a better understanding of the new property rate and they supported it.
She added that FCC would continue to engage Freetonians to dispel all misconceptions about the new system. She informed the gathering that there is an Enquiries and Appeals Desk at FCC, and urged residents of the city to call 078333000, 088333000 or 034333000 if they had any questions or concerns about their property rates or business licenses.
25/6/2020. ISSUE NO.:7853